Boarding a charter bus, the 30 participants first stopped at the Session Café located in the original hospital building at the top of a hill on 67th Street. The Cafe’s seating boasts an almost entirely clear view of the oceanfront as tables wrap around a sun porch of the front and sides of the building. It also overlooks a stone labyrinth and reflexology path, as well as a meditation garden with a fishpond and bamboo forest. 

 Next, the group moved to the main Visitor Center and spent half an hour perusing the bookstore and gift shop. It was a warm day, so others sat and gathered in the foyer watching an informational video on Cayce. 

 Two knowledgeable guides led the group on a tour that started on the third floor where the Meditation Room is located. The room has seating for about 40 people, with a floor-to-ceiling view of the ocean, as well as large crystals in each corner. Vibrant stained-glass box windows shone at the top of one of the walls, each color representing one of the chakras. 

 Originally from Kentucky, Cayce decided to build the hospital in Virginia Beach after “being directed to do so in a reading.” Attendees learned that he saw himself as a servant and his mission was to offer practical, spiritual, and holistic guidance for living a purposeful life. Known as the Sleeping Prophet, the guide explained Cayce’s process of giving readings in a self-hypnotic state.

 The library is located on the second floor and although it was closed for renovations, it houses the sofa that Cayce laid on during his readings as well as an abundance of books on all aspects of spirituality. Detailed readings by Cayce are also archived and available for members of the center to view and study. 

 The trip was a success and proved that outings are desired by the senior community. In fact, at least five people wanted to join after the registration date closed. 

For more information on the Senior Club, senior activities, or to offer suggestions and feedback, contact Sarah Cooper at scooper@ujft.org or call 757-452-3184. 

 Moskowitz, a widely published author and educator who grew up in Richmond and spent a year in Virginia Beach as a child, attending Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, drew on ideas from his book, Ancestral Allyship during the presentation. In the book, he connects themes of identity, responsibility, and belonging to the weekly Torah portion. His teaching at the event emphasized that allyship is not a static label, but an ongoing practice rooted in Jewish values and lived experience.

 The conversation was moderated by Deb Segaloff, who highlighted Moskowitz’s ability to bring traditional texts into contemporary discussions. “[He] chooses to focus on inclusion and the many things that unite us as people,” says Segaloff. “He gives hope to the many LGBTQ+ Jews that want to belong and be part of the community.”

 Throughout the evening, Moskowitz encouraged participants to remain open to the perspectives and experiences of others, framing that openness as a core element of both Jewish learning and allyship. The event was attended by people of all faiths and backgrounds. “It was a wonderful event,” says Alicia “Sunny” Peoples, co-chair of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. “As someone whose faith tradition is intersectional, I loved the conversation.”

 Moskowitz also returned to the principle that all people are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and challenged attendees to consider what that belief means in practice. His reflections connected traditional sources with contemporary conversations around identity and community, offering a perspective that was both rooted in Jewish texts and responsive to present-day realities.

The program was held in partnership with the Jewish Book Council, Hampton Roads Pride, and the LGBT Life Center of Hampton Roads, and was funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission.

For more information about Arts + Ideas programming, contact Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

 The celebration began on May 4 with an exploration of Moses Jacob Ezekiel, a complex figure in American Jewish art history. An intimate group gathered at the Sandler Family Campus for a screening of Moses Ezekiel: Portrait of a Lost Artist, which prompted conversation about the tension between Ezekiel’s artistic achievements and his support of the Confederacy. Alex Pincus and other members of the Pincus family, who are descendants of Ezekiel, spoke briefly about the family connection and what they knew about the complicated man.

 That dialogue extended to two guided tours at the Norfolk Botanical Garden the following week where participants encountered Ezekiel’s work in the Moses Ezekiel Statuary Vista Garden. Standing among the Carrara marble sculptures he created in Rome, attendees engaged with his legacy, deepening reflection on how his art and local history intersect.

 The exploration of Jewish artistic legacy continued with docent-led tours of Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Led in large part by Harry Graber, longtime community leader and former UJFT CEO, the tours highlighted the innovation of these groundbreaking Jewish artists. Participants engaged with themes of immigration, identity, resilience, and creativity, gaining a deeper appreciation for the lasting influence Jewish American artists have had on the nation’s cultural fabric. “[The exhibit] was an epiphany,” says Lorna Orleans. “Very able docent Harry Graber led the visit with great knowledge and humor. After visiting this exhibit, one was left with the impression that these two women were literally and figuratively truly architects of their own being.”

 On May 6, JAHM was marked at Harbor Park, where families and friends from the Jewish communities on both sides of the water gathered for the Norfolk Tides’ inaugural Jewish American Heritage Night. UJFT and the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula had approached the Tides to organize the night last year, but inclement weather on two separate dates led to postponing it until 2026. Highlights of the evening included Tidewater native and award winning Jewish country artist Troy Breslow’s performance of the National Anthem, and local Cox High School pitcher MJ Lemke – recently signed to play Division I baseball at the University of Richmond – making the ceremonial first pitch.

 The month closed with a residency of author, educator, and musician Jason Schachter McKinney, whose programming invited participants of all ages and backgrounds to reflect on identity and belonging. Through school visits, performances, synagogue engagements, and interfaith dialogue, McKinney used music and storytelling to explore what it means to hold multiple identities while building community.

 At Butts Road Intermediate School, McKinney read his new book, Jason Belongs to 120 third grade students, sparking enthusiastic questions about language, heritage, and growing up in a multicultural family. The visit concluded the school’s JAHM programming and SOL testing season.

 McKinney also participated in UJFT’s Annual Celebration of Lifelong Learning, this year held at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center, where he offered an intimate concert, singing traditional Jewish songs and spirituals in his signature operatic baritone voice. “The Jewish Museum provided a beautiful setting,” says Nancy Bangel. 

“Jason filled the room with his larger-than-life powerful voice that filled me with emotion.” Normon Soroko, president of JMCC, adds, “The event was wonderful. Chazan McKinney gave one of the best performances I have seen in a while.”

 McKinney also visited area synagogues, beginning at Ohef Sholom Temple where he served as a guest speaker and led the congregation in a rendition of Oseh Shalom that he composed. He also participated in services at Kehillat Beit Hamidrash alongside congregants and clergy from Temple Israel and Temple Emmanuel, where his music and storytelling added a meaningful dimension to prayer and communal connection. 

 McKinney’s residency concluded with an interfaith service at Second Presbyterian Church with Pastor Craig Wansink, music director Bob Shoup, and Rabbi Michael Panitz, helping to bridge communities through an exploration of faith through music. Wansink says that having McKinney as a guest “made for a meaningful and memorable experience,” expressing gratefulness on behalf of his congregation.

 Together, these programs created a multifaceted portrait of Jewish American Heritage Month, inviting the community to engage with the complexity of Jewish American experience, as well as with the ongoing work of building belonging across difference.

Preparing hearts for Shavuot

Before the holiday, NextGen members gathered for a Neighborhood Porch Pop-Up, welcomed by congregants of B’nai Israel who transformed their homes into sanctuaries of learning and connection.

 The evening began at the home of Dr. Gedaliah Schwartz and his family, where Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer guided the participants in a fascinating analysis of the structural layout of the Two Tablets to uncover their modern spiritual blueprint.

 At the second stop, hosted by Eitan and Anna Bloom, Rabbi Aryeh Kravetz led a discussion on cultivating resilience through faith, encouraging participants to reflect on personal growth and navigating life’s inevitable challenges.

 The evening concluded at the home of Rabbi Shlomo and Liba Eisenberg with an exploration of the Book of Ruth. Liba Eisenberg highlighted Ruth’s extraordinary faith and unwavering loyalty, reminding participants that her courageous choice to join the Jewish people ultimately led to the lineage of King David, forever shaping Jewish history.

Continuing the conversation

Following Shavuot, NextGen reunited at Temple Israel for The Third Hour, a traditional third Shabbat meal, complete with Jewish learning led by Rabbi Michael Panitz. Building on the themes explored before the holiday, the gathering focused on bringing Shavuot’s lessons of spiritual growth and renewal into everyday life.

The discussion returned to the Book of Ruth, reflecting on how Ruth—a Moabite woman who chose Judaism with complete devotion—became the great-grandmother of King David. Participants also explored the Torah’s repeated commandment to love and care for converts, recognizing that when the Israelites accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai, they too became, in many ways, “Jews by choice.” The conversation offered an opportunity for attendees to connect with several members of Rabbi Panitz’s conversion program before the evening concluded with a beautiful Havdalah service.

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Together, these gatherings demonstrated that Shavuot is not simply a holiday to observe, but an invitation to continue learning, building community, and finding new meaning in Jewish tradition throughout the year.

To learn more about NextGen events, register for an event, and how to get more involved, visit JewishVA.org/NextGen or email Hannah Yasemsky at hyasemsky@ujft.org.

Teen campers also put Jewish values into action during the first week through a mitzvah project with Mutts with a Mission. They helped plant garden beds before having the chance to meet puppies training to become future service dogs, learning how acts of service can make a lasting impact on both people and animals.

  Camp JCC staff has fun, too.

  “I enjoy going to the pool and getting to see everyone, past campers of mine and current. It’s always a good time!” says Riley Salway, a Camp JCC unit head. 

 Counselor Jordan Cubitt, who has transitioned from camper, to CIT, to counselor and works at Camp JCC year-round, says he is excited to share his interests and introduce campers to new technology, “I’m looking forward to showing the teens how to 3D print!”

 Blake Sisler, youth and family program coordinator at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, is spending her first summer as Camp JCC’s Teen unit head. “I’ve enjoyed seeing the joy on everyone’s faces at Boker Tov. They are all so happy to see their friends!”

Camp traditions continue to be among everyone’s favorite moments. “Seeing the kids dance at Shabbat is one of my favorite parts!” says Chris Fenley, Art & Fishing Specialist who is spending his 30th summer at Camp JCC this year. 

 The week concluded with Camp JCC’s first Shabbat of the summer at the Marty Einhorn Pavilion. Campers gathered for Shabbat blessings and challah and celebrated a successful week of camp with a lively dance party led by the ShinShinim.

 As summer continues, campers and staff look forward to more adventures, new friendships, and the lasting memories that make Camp JCC a place where children can’t wait to return year after year.

Interested in signing up for Camp JCC? A few weeks still have some open spots. Visit CampJCC.org or contact Christine Carnahan, camp manager, at 757-452-3182.

Rashi Brashevitzky is Judaic Studies director at Strelitz International Academy.

For more information about the Holocaust Commission or the Elie Wiesel Writing & Visual Arts Competition, contact Elka Mednick at emednick@ujft.org.

 The event raised more than $25,000 with most of those funds going to support PJ Library in Tidewater. PJ Library sends families free, high-quality Jewish storybooks each month.

 The tournament winner, Jon Horwitz, fended off Jason Hoffman at the final table to take first place.

 Many Nadiv members set up the room and managed the event all night (ending at 11 pm). Special thanks to the dealers who kept the table action moving and to Tom Edwards, JCC athletics director, for running a flawless tournament.

 A young professional men’s fundraising group through UJFT, Nadiv is open to men ages 22-50. Interested in joining? Contact Amy Zelenka at AZelenka@ujft.org.